Rare Bloor Derby Imari Pattern Miniature Toy Jug and Basin c1830

A superb Robert Bloor period Derby porcelain miniature or toy* hydra jug and octagonal basin. Beautifully decorated in an early version of the traditional Imari pattern, finished with lots of gilding. Both items in excellent condition - no chips, cracks or restoration and showing little sign of wear. Rare to find, especially in such good order. Basin faintly marked with Bloor Derby circular mark in red (1820-40). Height of jug 5cm (2in), width of basin 7.25cm (2.8in)

*China manufacturers of this period referred to miniature items, often under 7.5cm in height, as toys. It is often suggested that these pieces were travellers' samples, though John Twitchett in his book on Derby Porcelain states that there is no evidence of this in Derby records. I think it safe to say that miniature objects have simply fascinated people for millennia.